Clutch device



July 15, 1930.

E. L. ACKERMAN El AL- CLUTCH DEVICE Filed Jain. 16, 1929 INVENTOR.5

. A TTORNE Y.

Patented July 15, 1930 UNITED STA ES EDWARD L. ACKERMAN AND ALOIS J.'zwrnnzmn, on DETROIT, M CHIGAN, ASSIGN- one ToACKERMAN-BLAESSEB-FEZZEY, mo ornETRoIT, MICHIGAN, A 'GURIORA- 1 TION or'vrxonrem CLUTCH ZD EVICE- Application-filed January 16, 1929. Serial no.332,97

This invention relatesto clutoh devices and the object of the inventionis to 'providea.

clutch device for use on a Window regulator and arranged tolockthewindow regulator from movement except by operationof-theregulator crank. j. I i

A purpose andfeature of this invention is ,to provide a clutchdevice inwhich a cylinmember on: opposite sides ofthelug of the tion of thedriving member driven member therein. These lugs and spaces of the drivng and driven members are so arranged and formed that, throughrotaque'ntexpansion of the spring by one of the lugs and release ofthe spring fromfrictional contact with the casing, the other. lug of the driving memberengages a lug of the driven member to directly drive the driven memberin either direction of rotation of thedriving member. Preferably theparts are so proi portioned that, at the time the lug of the driv ingmember comes to direct contact with the said lug of the driven member,the spring end through which thecontraction of the spring isaccomplished engages the other lugof the driven member approximatelysimultaneously. j

Another object of the invention isto provide a clutch devicecomprisingacasingand a clutch member-adapted tobe expanded intoengagement with the wall of .the casing'by pressure applied .to thewindow or parts attached thereto to-l'ock the window from move- ,ment,theclutch device being adapted toxbe contracted by rotation of the crankto. allow the window regulator tobe operated.

e i A further object ofthe inventionis to 'provide a pair of actuatingmembersarranged to inter-engage, onemember' being. 1 adapted to -to thefirst member.

release the clutch device when-Lit is (rotated and the other memberbeing adapted to-zlock. theclutch device when itis rotated in relationand the conse- T se bi s d h e eral novelfeatures 1 O e n en ion a renaft r. lnb fully described and claimed and'th'e preferredform ofeonstruction by which theseobj ects are atains s sh i i .1 i anelevation f an aufibmdbn j th a or panying dmwdoor showing "theregulator.withlwhieh'fthe' clutch device'is utilized; i i

{Fig.2 is view 'f the inner side of the clutch device and casing I R;-Q, Fig. 3.1 avs'ection takenonline of Fig.2. f I 'Fig., 4*is a sectiontakenori 'f Flag. 3.

" "Fi '5' is asection similar to rig. :4; as...

" ii th clu 'eh device relea d-.1.

ia perspective'view of the releasing mb V v v mem r.

Fig. 3 which is substantially cup Shaped in "Fig.7 is aj perspectiveview. ofthe'locking mprises a casing jl s'how'n in is provided-with anoutwardly egr- Y 7 fiendin fi ee Th fl ne' is rrovide .with apertures 3toreceive retaining screws (not here h by-me s fEW H M fframje; Acoiledjspring positioned in th -eas ng li s ho n i 'F Sfiand i andz hcoil ed spring v fits, snugly; against the casing 11 as, to maintain itinposition. 7 I 'As shown in Ifigfl3a shaft 5 extends'through the casingand a {member-'6 shown Ein E ig'ff6 is mQ li fie'd Q11 shaft 5 and ,issecured thereto 'vicemay he secured to anaetpmjebi e"door: 5

Tby apiri Tas indicated .inFig. 3 oriby any otherxsnitablemeansL Thismember 6 isp rovided with anaperture 8 through which the ,sh'af -tentend 'gand is 'alsoprovidedwith two or wide ribs -9: and '10 shown,which.-

les

11ugsj 9 and 10 at .the, lower. end are each pro-j ,Vi'dG spaceslililvand 12 therebetween. The

1 5ias "shown'fin Fig. 4. fTheselugsYare .de- 7 lJf-fiSSQd inw rdlyom Irp p r the 1 spring 4 as shown in Fig. 3 while the fiange 17 of themember 14 provides a seat for the end of the spring 4 as shown and actsas a retainer to hold the spring in the casing. In this manner thespring is held between the flanges 17 of the member 14-and theprojections or flanges 13 of the member 6. A gear 18 is secured to themember 14 as shown in Fig. 7 and an aperture 19 is provided through thegear and through the member 14 through which the small end 20 of theshaft 5 extends.

In assembly the member 6 is first positioned in the bottom of the casingwith the shaft 5 to which it is secured and the spring 4 is theninserted in the casing against the projections 13 of the member 6 andthe spring 4, as shown in Fig. 4, is providedwith an inturned end 21 atthe lower end and with an inturned end 22 at the upper end. These endsare inserted in the space not the member 6 and extend into the path ofmovement of the lugs 9 and 10 as shown. The member'14 is then insertedover the end of the shaft 5 and the lug 16 is inserted between the ends21 and 22 of the space 12 on the member 6.

In operation, the crank is secured to the squared end 23 of the shaft 5and by rotation of this shaft in'one direction the lug 10 is moved intocontact with the end 22 ofthe spring 4 as shown in Fig. 5 and thisrotation of the shaft and member 6 tends to contract the spring and thusreleases it from binding engagement with the casing and allows thespring torotate with the lug 10. As the lug 10 is rotated the lug 9engages the lug 15 of the member 14 and rotates the member 14 withthemember 6. By this arrangement the gear 18 is rotated and turns thegear segment 24 'with which it meshes to raise or lower the window aswill be understood from Fig. 1.

I Upon rotation of the crank in the opposite rotation of the started.

I have shown the driving member 6 as havingthe longitudinal groove orspace 12 eX- tending longitudinally thereof less in width than theopposite space 11 but the invention is not confined to this specificarrangement,

the feature of theinvention as above stated being to provide aconstruction in which the lug 9 or 10, depending uponthe direction inwhich the driving member 6 is turned, will engage the lug 15 of thesecond or driven member 14 and'thus drive the same and avoid thenecessity of driving the member 14 solely by reason of the lug 16engaging a spring end as has been the general practice in this art.

. member.

"lator parts Movement of the lug 16 in It is thus necessary to soconstruct the device that a sufiicient space between the longitudinaledges of the fingers or lugs 16 and the respective adjacent edges of thelugs 9 and 10 to permit the opposite edges of the said lugs 9 and 10 toengage the respective opposite side edges of the lug 15 approximately ator before the time the spring ends 21 and 22 are brought to respectiveengagement with the lug 16 through rotation of the driving Structures ofthis class are made principally ofstampings and therefore are notaccurately constructed or carefully linishedand, while it is preferablethat the spring ends21 or 22, depending upon the cilrection oi rotationof the driving member,

should engage the respective edge of the member 16 at approximately thetime an edge of the member 15 is engaged by the said lugs 9 and 10 andthus apply pressure to the driven member at two approximatelydiametrically opposite points.

It is net essential, however, that the parts be-constructed or assembledwith so 'reat.

an accuracy as the driven member wiilbe effectively and'efiicientlyoperated if the en- "ire driving pressure is applied solely through themember 15, sufiicient space being provided between the edges of themember 16 and the adjacent edges of the lugs 9 and 10 to permit acontraction of the spring at the time the lug 15 is engaged by one orthe other of the lugs 9 and 10 of the member Wi' hen pressure is appliedto the window or regulator parts the gear segment 24 1 eshing with thegear 18 tends to turn the gear 18 and the member let-including the lugs15 and 16. As will be understood from F s. 4 and 5 movement of the lug16 in one direction enga es the spring end 21 and tends to e:- pand' thespring into tight engagement with the wall of the casing 1. Thisimmediately locks-the gear 18 from turning and the greater the'pressureapplied to the spring the more firmly it is locked in the casing and t1-us prevents movement of the window or re. u-

the opposite directioncauses it to engage the spring end 22 to expandthe spring into tight engagement with the casing 1 and the great erthe-pressure applied in this direction the more firmly the spring islocked in position. Due tothe spaces between the lugs on the member 6and the lugs on the member 14 these members may move to a limited extentin relation to each other and these lugs are arranged that when thecrank is rotated the lug 15 is driven by the lugs 9 or 10 moved intoengagementtherewith thus driving the rotatable member 14, the gear 18 ofwhich meshes with the gearsegment 24 and operates the regulatorwith adirect contact and not by driving solely through the ends 21 or 22 01"the spring while the lugs 9 or 10 on their opposite sides contact thespring ends 21 or 22 to release thespring. On the other hand when themember 14 is turned the lug 16 en-' gages either spring end 21 or22tolock the clutch devlce. v. v .7 From the foregoing description itbecomes evident that the device is very simple and efficient inoperation, will not easily get out of order, is composed'of few partsand is of consequent low manufacturing cost and pro: vides a devicewhichaccomplishes the objects described. J l

Having thus fully described our invention, its utility and mode ofoperation, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters PatentoftheUnited States is '7 1. In a clutch device acasing,ashaft rotatablymounted in the casing, a coiled spring positioned in the casing, andfrictio-nally engaging the inner wall of the casing, a member secured tothe shaft wlthin the coiled spring and having projections against whichone end of the coiled spring engages, the

member being provided with a pair of spaced lugs extendinglongitudinally thereof and the spring being provided with inturned endsextending into one of the spaces between the r lugs and engaging overthe edges of the lugs,

' end to expand the spring and upon rotation,

tionmovesoneof the lugs'of'the first mema second member rotatable inrelation to the first member and having a lugextending nto the spacebetween the inturned spr ng ends on one side and having a second lugengaging between the lugs of the first member on'the opposite side, thearrangement being such that upon rotationof the second mem-i her ineither, direction in relation to the first member the first lug of thesecond member 1s moved 1nto engagementwith elther spring of the firstmember one of the lugs of the first member is moved into engagementwith] one of the spring'endsto contract'the spring,

the said first member during rotation being:v

of lugs 7 extending between the" lugs of the first 'member, a coiledspring posit1oned.1n

the casing and frictionally engaging the wall of thecaslng, the saidsprmg having inturned ends extending into one of the spaces between thelugsof the first member and on opposite sides of one lug of the second(member, the. lugs of the first member being adapted to engage theoppositelug of the second memrher during rotation of the first membereither direction. to carry the second member therewith, the arrangementbeing such'that rotation of the first'member in'either diree:

her into engagement with oneof-theends of the spring to contract thespring-arid-rotationof thesecondmember in either direction ,in'-relationto the firstmember moves one lug of the second member'mtO engagementwith g --e ther end of the spring to expand the spring:

into binding engagement with the wall of the casing and a the saidmemberbeing' provided with a 7 gear secured to the saidsecond naember; VI I f ,3. In a clutchdevice, a easing,a'shaft ro' tatably mounted in thecasing, amember sefloured to the'shaft and having a pair of lugs,

radially extending projection at the base of each lug', a secondmemberhaving a-pair of'lugs extendingbetween the lugs of the firstimember, thesecond member being rotatableonthe shaft to-a limited extent in relationto the first member and having an ex" tending flange fitting-within thecasing, a,

one of the spaces between the lugs'of the first member and on oppositesides of one lug of the second member, the arrangement being such,';that rotation of the said lugs j of the second member in eitherdirection] engages one oftheadj'acent spring ends to expand thespringand rotation ofthe'first memberimoves one of the lugs of the firstmember into en= gagement withone ofvthe spring vends to contract thespring and the other lug of the Vfirst'mem-ber toodrivin'g engagementwiththe "other lug-of the second member. i

[4. Ina clutch devlce, a cas1ng,'a shaft roably supported, solely the.s'haftand having a pairof lugs engaging between the lugs of ;t-he; firstmember, acoiled spring aboutthe lugs of the said 'members within thecasing 1 andqhaving inturned ends engaging over the edges oftheshouldersofpne of the spaces a so coiled spring fitting within the,casing between the flange of the second member and the projectionsof'the first member, the coiled spring having inturned endsg extendinginto tatably mountedthereima driving rr'iemb secured tothe shaft, saidmember having a pair of spaced lug's, ,a second member rotatbetween thelugs of the 'firsti member and on H opposite sides'ofthe lugflof thesecond member extending tliereinto, the other lug of the second memberextending within the space the second member andeither spring end" beingapproximately the'sarne as the space hetween-eitheredge of the other lugofthe second member and an opposite respective edge of the lugs of.the'first member at any point I of relative relation 'ofsaid membersprovid-. 'ing a construction whereby rotation of the first membercontracts the spring and then engages the second lug of the secondmember x -between the oppo'site edges' ofthe. lugs of v the firstmember, thespace between-the lug of weave the same, and rotation oftherseco d member in either direction causes the spring to expand tofrictionalengagement with the we iao casin 5. In a clutch device, acylindrical casing, a shaft rotatable therein, a driving member fixed tothe shaft having a pair of lugs providing two practically oppositelydisposed spaces therebetween, a driven member having a pair of lugsinsertible in the said spaces be tween the lugs of the driving member, acylindrical coiled spring engaging over the lugs of the two memberswithin the casing and having its opposite ends inturned into one f thespaces between the lugs of the driving member and on opposite sides ofthe lug of the driven member extending thereinto, the arrangement of thelugs being such that on rotation of the first member the spring iscontracted out of frictional contact with the casing and a lug of thesecond member is direct ly engaged by a lug of the first member wherebythe second member is driven through rotation of the first member androtation of the second member in either direction causes an expansion ofthe spring to locking engagement with the casing.

6. In a clutch device, a stationary cylindrical casing, a drivingmemberrotatably supported therein having two practically oppositely disposedlugs and spaces therebetween, a driven member also rotatably supportedwithin the casing and having a pair of practically oppositely disposedspaced lugs positioned in the spaces between the lugs of the drivingmember, a cylindrical coiled spring in the casing about the lugs 01 saidmembers having each of its ends inturned into one of the spacesof thedriving member on opposite sides of the lug of the driven memberpositioned therein, the arrangement and relationship of the spring andthe lugs of the two members being such that rotation of the drivenmember in either direction causes an expansion of the spring andconsequent frictional engagement thereof with the casing to lock thedriving and driven members from I rotation, and upon rotation of thedriving member in either direction the sprlng through engagement of anend thereof with therespective lug of the driving member is firstexpande d, and thereafter the other lug of the driving member is broughtto driving engagement with the lug of the 'driven member in the otherspace between the lugs of the driving member.

EDWARD L. AGKERMAN. ALOIS J. ZWIERZINA.

7 In testimony whereof we sign this specification.

